The fourth season of HBO’s “True Blood” kicks off on June 26 and if the premiere’s synopsis is to be believed, we’ll jump right back into season 3’s established storylines and explore new avenues with a host of new characters.

Unless you’ve been hibernating in a coffin during the show’s hiatus, you know that some of the new characters are familiar faces. I’m particularly excited about “Dexter’s” love-to-hate-her Courtney Ford and Gary Cole from “Office Space” filling the roles of Portia Bellefleur and Earl Stackhouse, respectively.

We can also look forward to a new relationship for Sam, a new friend for Tara and plenty of Alcide, who will hopefully wear as little clothing as premium cable will allow.

Eric and Bill will attempt to do damage control in the wake of Russell’s on-air meltdown, and Jason’s well-intentioned effort to protect the hillbilly werepanthers of Hotshot might come back to haunt him.

As for our favorite couples, Terry attempts to talk Arlene off a ledge by convincing her that she is not, in fact, carrying Rosemary’s Baby, and Hoyt and Jessica will learn that playing house is much more involved than picking out hand towels for the powder room. Lastly, Jesus and Lafayette will grow together in their faith by joining a coven. This bodes well for fans of the two as witches are expected to play a sizable role in season 4.

Of course, we’ll have to follow up with the much-maligned (by me) fairy plotline. We get it. Sookie’s part-fairy and fairies are a vampire delicacy. One can only hope last season’s lame “cliffhanger” will reveal that Sookie was beamed to an emergency meeting with the writers in an attempt to convince them to abandon the corny, Vaseline-smeared dream sequences with Claudine and her band of frolicking fairies.

Seriously? If I wanted to OD on glitter I’d watch “Twilight.” Let’s get back to the business of bloody badassery that we’ve come to expect from this show.

Fairies aside, there’s so much to look forward to. I’m excited, are you excited? Let’s be excited together in the comments.

soundoff(37 Responses)

As a True Blood fan I can not wait (Although living in England it will be next year before we get it here) I have read the books and this was my favourite!! By far. I hope the writers have not deviated from the book too much.... there is a scene I am especialy looking forwaard too LOL :o)

I am with you! No fairyland. But, already disappointed that it's in the first three minutes. And, it looks like someone has been brushing up on their Greek mythology – is there a problem if you eat the fruit – like lotus flowers to make you happy but forget – or Persephone – you eat it and you can't leave. Fairies are part of the books, but not fairyland. I can only hope and pray that they do not let fairlyland become the new 'maryann' theme, which virtually took over and ruined season two, it was just pointless. Sometimes I think these wacky writers go into a room and work themselves into a frenzy thinking what is smart and clever. Most of the time, they get it. There are enough great offshoot stories not in the book (Jessica & Hoyt, Arlene & Terry, Lafayette & Jesus) that they don't need to spend so much time on this. They might think they are dragging out the stories to give us ten years of the series, but if they continue veering off the path too much . . well, there might be some shark-jumping to do!

Well, I just hope that they follow the book when it comes to Eric and Sookie getting it on. I can't wait to see Eric naked again, and even better if it is doing it with Sookie. That is part of the 4th book, just like the fairies and the witches plots.

The fae are MAJOR bada$$es in the books, capable of kicking vampire and were-whatever butt. I hope they do make an appearance, and y guess is that, if they do, the dreamy fogged-lens sequences will soon be replaced with lots of bloody death. And can the season just START already? Witches, fae, vamps, weres of all kinds, heck – what more could a girl ask for on any given evening? Ooh! Does anyone know if Quinn is putting in an appearance this season?

Yes, the fairy plot line is important in the books, but it was more in keeping with the traditional depiction of the fae and the world they live in, rather than the rather ridiculous "aliens" aspect used in the show. Claudine and Claude were great characters. Claudine was tall and sassy and hot, and didn't take any crap from vamps or anyone else. Claude was this gorgeous, full of himself fae guy who loved men, owned a strip club, and posed for romance novel covers with Sookie. I don't personally like the direction the show has taken the fairies. The worst of it though, is what they did to Bill and Sookie. I've read all the books. I know they had to break them up. Fine. But when they put in the part about Bill deliberately watching Sookie get beaten to death before he "saved" her and gave her his blood, they completely ruined the wonder of the entire first season. How can we ever look at that season again and enjoy the romance and specialness that relationship had – knowing that he let them hurt her like that on purpose? It was unnecessary and stupid. It destroyed the show for me. No telling how they will break apart Sookie and Eric.

I read all the books and in the books, Sookie does find out she is a fairy and Claudine and Claude are major players in her life.. I really do hope they bring in Claude..... I really hope Eric does loose his memory cause that is my fav storyline with Sookie ever!!! I love Eric.. Alcide is not too overly involved in the books but I would love to see more of him in the show!!!! I love this show!

They have cast Claude. Sadly (IMHO) he, like Claudia, were not cast as they were portrayed in the books. Neither has the qualities to make humans or vampires stop in their tracks and basically lose their minds with lust. It's like Calvin Norris – what a waste of a character and storyline from the books. He was honorable and attractive. I honestly don't mind that AB wants to change and add to the story lines, but I just don't understand why he needs to change the essence of the characters as they were written. Then why even have those characters – they just become names and that is a little silly. *stepping off my soap box*

I know! I hate how they changed Hotshot into a drug haven.. they are weird, but not bad like the show is making them... I actually really liked Calvin in the books..
HBO has already posted a short video of the scene where Eric is running down the road naked and Sookie finds him.. I am soooooo excited! I hope they follow the book with that story line...

TO ALL THE COMPLAINERS!! if you have HBO GO app go to True Blood and see the first three minutes of what exactlyt happened to Sookie when she was beamed off to fairyland. Part two of that comes on next Sunday but it is interesting to say the least. Real Trubies have love and adoration for the Sookie Stackhouse series AND True Blood!

To the abyss with this show and its endless cliffhangers, season three's end was so unsatisfying I can barely bring myself to commit to season 4. The writers need to get their act together before they get staked and left out for the sun.

The witch plot line has been in the novels, since the fourth book. Now whether or not it will follow the book, or be a jumping off point for other stories, as they've done in other years, is yet to be seen.

Tammy & Toni are right – the fairy plotline is in the books, and it is VERY important. I know that the shoe isn't following the books completely, but the whole fairy things is a big part of who Sookie is. Don't knock it yet.

The fairy plotline was in the books, as well as the witches plotline. The majority of the fourth book dealt with the witches and all the trouble brought about by them. The fourth book was my favorite in the entire series so far! This is going to be a great season!

The fairy plot line was done really well in the books, and I know that the TV series doesn't follow it exactly, but it has really messed up what the books did in a clever way. I don't see how it's going to help explain Sookie when they haven't done it to the best of its potential. The show seems to rush to use all the best plots at once and spoils them. I'm still a big fan of the show, just a bit disappointed.

i love true blood.... seen all seasons and read every book.... kinda wish they would stick to the plot of the books..... its way more interesting.... and when are they gonna bring buba around... hes my fav in the books!